He’s been touted as one of few reasons for Australian rugby fans to be optimistic about the future, but young star Izaia Perese is on his way out of the 15-man game and headed to rugby league.
As first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Perese has signed a contract with Intrust Super Cup side the Redcliffe Dolphins, a feeder club for the Brisbane Broncos. The deal is only a training replacement contract, however, there’s little doubt Perese has more than enough talent to make the grade in the NRL and earn a place in the Broncos’ senior squad.
The Queensland Reds confirmed the news on Monday afternoon, saying the decision wasn’t taken lightly, and that it was only made when a quality replacement was found.
“We have thought long and hard about this, as releasing players from their contractual commitments isn’t something we take lightly,” said a statement released by the club.
“Izaia was released on the basis of us identifying a quality replacement and this has certainly been achieved. We wish Izaia all the best for his future.”
The 21-year-old outside back started gaining attention with some notable performances in the NRC in 2016 and 2017 and made his Super Rugby debut for the Queensland Reds in 2017. He’s been on the fringes of the Wallabies squad without having made his debut, but still loomed as a likely member of the Australian side for the World Cup next year in Japan.
But now, Wallabies fans are now unlikely to ever see the young star pull on an Australian jersey – at least in rugby union – with Perese following in the footsteps of fellow Anglican Church Grammar School product Kalyn Ponga and making the switch to league.
In some brighter news, Perese’s exit means Melbourne Rebels winger Sefa Naivalu has made the move north to join the Reds, confirmed on Monday afternoon in a switch that is likely to increase the big winger’s playing time and World Cup hopes.
Naivalu said he was excited about the opportunity to join the Reds.
“I’m very excited to go up there and play with a bunch of Rugby players who have the potential of getting the job done,” said Naivalu.
“Brad Thorn is a well known Rugby player and I’m looking forward to working with him and learning more off him.
“I just need to keep working hard and taking opportunities and execute how the coaches want me to execute and hopefully I get selected for the World Cup next year.”
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
But then saw the light, Nerval?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
perhaps he doesn’t want to play a dangerous sport anymore. 3 French players dead in 5 months! https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/dec/18/france-rugby-union-deaths
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Union's th$gs sport that's just well financed by the oldboy club . In France- 3 dead in 5 months plus many others. https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/dec/18/france-rugby-union-deaths
AJ
Guest
Until age 12 when they started school at Downlands and TGS. Horan probably played junior league cause Dad was s league player, Little was from the country where there was no option. Nearly everyone from the country grew up playing league because there were no rugby juniors in those days. A lot of blokes at Downlands had played Aussie rules prior as well. Everyone probably played a bit of soccer too when they were kids...
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Cheap shot. You assume that the publicly funded private schools would be allowed to keep their publicly funded property. I suggest that you and I live in very different societies. Mine is a rational well considered society, whereas yours appears shaped by shock jocks and lemming behaviour.
Rugby wizard
Guest
Parese reminded me so much of legendary springbok centre Danie Gerber,its a real shame he has left union.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Caleb Timu
jeznez
Roar Guru
His wikipedia page says he started in union as a junior for Shoalhaven before his shift to Randwick. There is no mention of him playing league before he joined the Dragons.
In Brief
Guest
Did he? Which team- I've never heard that before.
In Brief
Guest
Rugby union is a better sport and that is the real selling point.
Tingo Tango
Guest
The public education system would collapse if not for private schools. Is this a serious statement or do you live in some situation that does not reflect the reality in which the rest of society functions?
Tingo Tango
Guest
Then we all need to start playing soccer because I hate to break it to you but Union is not that big around the world. Like it is the number one sport in NZ a few Pacific Islands and the white population of SA. Hardly thriving population bases. As far as domestic sports goes you should also tell the Americans that they need to give up on American Football and the Canadian likewise because no one really cares about their sports outside of their domestic borders.
tingo tango
Guest
The old "You can go more places playing Union than League" statement. If this is all Union has got over League then it is in serious trouble because going to NZ or South Africa is not really on the top of everyone's wish list. Grow up for once and see that there is obviously an attraction for a promising Union player to go over to League.
Zado
Guest
Don't forget other frauds Robertson Hanigan Dempsey Foley Phipps Hooper and Simmons
Jim
Guest
4 rookies in that backline and no Fullback .Yeah looks great..sheeeesh
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Strange how HSC results show that state schools outperform "quality" private schools. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Assault demonstrates the qualities of taught at private schools. The NSWCCA appeal daily lists show the overrepresentation of "quality" private school old boys in the senior ranks of organised or white-collar crime. The culture of privilege, being above the law, lack of accountability, and buying your way to success is where the fault lies with the rotten culture of private education.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Rolling out the discredited furphy that private schools save taxpayers money. OECD and UNESCO reports as well as the Gonski report have shown that few countries subsidise private schools. None to the extent that Australian schools are subsidised. Your $40 000 p.a "contribution" heated swimming pools, grandiose libraries, theatres, dance studios and the like. Of course, you ignore tax deductions on mortgages for employees employed by "not-for-profits" as well as tax deductible contributions to building funds. Of course defending allegations of improper behaviour staff costs a fortune. I accept your desire to provide your children access to privileged social networks that are more important to "success" in Australia, rather than teaching children hard work and social values. I bet Abbott, Sco Mo and Dutton can rely on your vote.
Tom G
Guest
A totally overlooked fact that parents of the kids at GPS/CAS/IS Schools shell out after tax payments to send them to quality schools. Without these parents the public education system would collapse. This is not to mention the early pathways for Rugby which would struggle without their existence. Amazingly every time there is any article on “what’s wrong with Rugby” the naysayers howl that the old school network is to blame. Pretzel logic.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Losing him is unfortunate. But he signed for the Broncos (or was rumoured to have) some 6 months ago. He's a talented bloke and it would have been better to keep him around but he appears to have become frustrated by injury and its impact on his ability to play regularly at the Reds. Good luck to him at the Broncos.
Azza
Guest
Don't you listen ? Hunt has gone to the Tahs.